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Ken-Tool Introduces IronMan™ Ergonomic Wheel Lifting Bar That Helps Reduce Injuries

AKRON, OHIO – (February 20, 2008) – Professional tire service technicians know that lifting large tire and wheel assemblies can put a lot of extra stress on their backs, with the potential to cause serious injuries.  But now, Ken-Tool has developed a new wheel lifting tool designed to lighten the load, helping to prevent back injuries and make the job of changing heavy truck tires easier.

The IronMan™ Ergonomic Wheel Lifting Bar, (Item #34950) has specially designed ends to easily slip into one of the wheel openings to allow the user to raise the tire and wheel assembly from laying flat to a standing position.  The leverage created by the tool lets technicians easily – and safely – lift heavy, awkward tire and wheel assemblies, reducing the risk of back strain and injury.  In addition, the IronMan is extremely useful outside in muddy or other conditions when the wheel assembly might be wet or slippery and there is the chance that a technician might slip while lifting a wheel.
                                     
“Any truck tire technician working on the job for more than a couple of years probably has problems with his back from trying to lift these heavy assemblies,” said Rock Tyson, Ken-Tool’s director of marketing and sales.  “As a result, there has been a growing interest in finding a better way to manually lift a tire and wheel assembly more easily.  This is particularly important among shop owners who are aware of the potential for injury to their technicians and want to reduce their exposure to claims and increasing health insurance premiums. Ken-Tool’s new IronMan Ergonomic Wheel Lifting Bar is a simple, inexpensive, easy-to-use tool that substantially reduces the risk of back strain and injury.”

The IronMan features specially designed forged ends that work from either side of the wheel assembly as it lays flat.  It is comprised of a long bar with a special knob on one end and a curved spoon on the other.  To use the tool when the wheel is lying down with the hub-side up, the knob end is inserted into a lug hole and the tool is used to lever the assembly to the standing upright position.  If the tire/wheel assembly is lying with the hub side down, the curved spoon end is inserted into the wheel slot in the hub with the bent tip pointed toward the center of the wheel, and again the tool is used to lever the assembly to the standing upright position.

It easily helps lift all sizes and types of small and large heavy truck wheels: Standard sizes including 22.5” and 24.5” wheels, plus European (which have 1″ lug holes),  Super Wide and even the Super Single (a 340 lb. assembly) size.

Ken-Tool is the leading manufacturer of tire service tools in the world. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Ken-Tool has been providing the tire industry and automotive aftermarket with quality products for over 85 years. 

For media inquiries, or to request images, please contact Mariellen Fagan, Communications Director, Crowl, Montgomery & Clark, at mfagan@crowlinc.com, or 330-494-6999, ext. 201.

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